T-Mobile May Offer the iPhone 5 Sooner Than Expected

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) fans may be able to get their hands on an iPhone 5 via T-Mobile earlier than expected, according to the carrier’s CEO John Legere, who estimates a mid-April release at the latest. This is about 4-5 months ahead of schedule.

T-Mobile will also be the first carrier to offer the smartphones sans subsidies, which means a steep $649 price tag for the 16 GB version. The company is confident, however, that this decision will ultimately attract more subscribers thanks to the reduced monthly rates for plans. Another benefit is that users will not be locked into the traditional two-year contract, allowing them to upgrade more quickly and sell their old phones.